Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Aldi soap in Germany pulls 1001 Nights soap after people complained about the image of the Hagia Sophia on its label. The complaints argued that the image was blasphemous.

"Aldi's troubles began in December of last year, when they stacked their
shelves with a liquid soap called "Ombia - 1001 Nacht," or "1,001
Nights," named after the famous Arabian nights fables. The crucial
detail: those who have complained say the soap's packaging allegedly
shows a mosque.
Muslim customers viewed the item as offensive, saying a mosque did not
belong even in the vicinity of a lavatory. Many contacted Aldi Süd on
the supermarket's Facebook page.

"When I saw your liquid soap by Ombia on your shelves, I was a little
shocked since it showed a mosque," one of Aldi Süd's Facebook friends
posted on the social network in German. "The mosque with its dome and
minarets is a symbol that stands for dignity and respect for Muslims.
That's why I don't find it appropriate to depict this meaningful image
on an item of daily use."

Resolution attempt backfired

Aldi reacted swiftly about the potentially blasphemous soap. It issued a
statement on Facebook saying that it would remove the item from its
stores. "We're sorry that you were irritated by the design of our soap,"
Aldi apologized. "Of course, we have forwarded your note to the
appropriate contact person in this house so that they are informed and
sensitized to the issue.""